The Game of Cricket is Actually Quite Simple

[Briarcutter]

If you’re a fielder you could find yourself at point or backward of square square leg or silly mid on, you could also be at silly mid off, gully, slips or cover. Mid on and off aren’t silly but as I’ve said they can be. There is also third man and he can be deep third man if needs be and often swaps to fine leg depending on whose bowling and if this fielder was at the other end he could be long off or on.

Thank you for the clarification Reminds me of Abbott and Costello.

 

[MisterBadger]

Watching a game right now between Australia and the old foe England. Of course cricket like many games was invented by the English but after invention they very rarely won them, rugby, tennis, cricket, hockey, lawn bowls etc. They do excel at darts and snooker how ever

England did actually get the Calcutta Cup back from Scotland after 6 years today, but that was more to do with Scotland's mistakes than England's prowess.

 

[BingBong]

I know the terms but would not be able to differentiate unless I google it. So does one break leg and the other off? Or stay low or rebound up? Paul Adams in Cape Town was a joy to watch as he confounded the English in the 1995 Boxing Day test. Gatting called him “the frog in a blender” his action was so unorthodox. He had those in his repertoire.

Yes! A chinaman is a "wrong 'un" from a left arm spinner, a googly a "wrong 'un" from a right arm spinner, breaking in the opposite direction from normal. At least, I think that's how it goes, same but different. Sneaky buggers, spinners. And that Shane Warne, may he RIP, was something else.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I was hoping to catch a cricket match when we were in London last spring but . . . we weren't going to be there a month!

 

[VDL_Piper]

England did actually get the Calcutta Cup back from Scotland after 6 years today, but that was more to do with Scotland's mistakes than England's prowess.

Was tight again too, England just scraping through atm. Ireland is still the team to beat and it will be interesting to see who makes the squad of the Lions tour of Oz this year.

 

[JoburgB2]

cricket, since games can last five days.

Well, you could consider that sporting events of this length are not unusual. It might not be your thing, but golf events, for example, are still very popular on US television, are they not? And they run for four days.
At The Masters at Augusta, a single contestant's round typically takes around 4 hours to complete. The entire day's play, for all contestants, usually spans around 12 to 13 hours, early in the morning until the last group finishes in the early evening. For four days. That is long and yet remains popular, no? Test match cricket could last five days, but is frequently less than that, finishing on day 3 or 4. A day’s play is 6 hours, plus 60 minutes for the luncheon and tea intervals. A One-Day International (ODI) is a shortened form of the cricket game, about 7 hours including a 45-minute break between the innings. There is even a much shorter “twenty-over“ version of the game which appeals to some. But I would venture to guess, that a pipe smoker would love nothing more than to sit back in shade of the stoep, tending to his braai, with the test cricket on the radio, with a cool beer or a spook-and-diesel on ice, and puffing contentedly on a briar, for hours, enjoying a Boxing Day test match in the warmth of a southern hemisphere summer. I imagine our Oz brethren would concur.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Don’t forget the timeless test match between England and South Africa in 1939…

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

 

[JoburgB2]

Playing backyard cricket is alot more fun than watching it. Over the fence is 6 and out. Ladies can't get out for a duck either.
5 drink minimum usually, it's funnier that way.

Edit: if the ball bounces off the house and is caught one handed, it still counts as out.

 

[Brendan]

 

[VDL_Piper]

Lets not forget that the KING did this




This




fair bit of this




and this

All whilst being arguable the best spin bowler in the world.............Legend.

 

[Brendan]

 

[Beetmann]

I love "essentials only" explanations, especially when it comes to sports where lots of fan-energy type embellishments and digressiveness often make a clear understanding difficult.

Linguistic precision for the win!

(Especially useful in the case of cricket, since games can last five days.)




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That breakdown made me think of how some game reviews manage to explain complex mechanics in a really simple way. For example, this Double Bubble free spins review does a great job of keeping things clear and easy to follow, even for beginners.

Haha yep, I’ve seen that image before and it still makes me laugh - it sounds like it should make things clearer but somehow makes it even more confusing. Cricket’s rules are so wrapped up in tradition that even the “simple” explanations need an explanation